Connolly, Firefighters Continue a Beautiful Friendship
As investments go, Gerald E. Connolly has yielded pretty good returns for Fairfax County firefighters and paramedics.
Their union, Local 2068 of the International Association of Firefighters, has put up nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions to the Board of Supervisors chairman over the last four years.
During that period, they've received salary increases significantly higher than those of other county employees. County and union officials say there was no quid pro quo, and that the raises were strictly a matter of keeping public safety pay competitive with surrounding communities.
In any event, the close ties with Connolly continued this week when Local 2068 and its Prince William affiliate (Local 2958) endorsed his candidacy for the Democratic Congressional nomination in the 11th District.
"This is about a relationship," Local 2068 president John Niemiec said in a statement. "Gerry has stood with us for thirteen years and we're proud to stand with him now."
It's more than cash that makes the fireighters a valuable asset for Connolly. They also bring boots on the ground for phone banks, sign placement and other key campaign activities.
Connolly's principal opponent, former Rep. Leslie L. Byrne, has also collected significant labor endorsements, including the Washington D.C. Building Trades Council and AFSCME Virginia.
By Bill Turque |
March 21, 2008; 11:12 AM ET
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Bill Turque
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Election 2008/Congress
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Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Gerald E. Connolly
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Posted by: Anonymous | March 21, 2008 11:56 AM
there was no quid pro quo except for the quid pro quo
Posted by: Anonymous | March 21, 2008 1:49 PM
Byrne has at least a shot of winning the primary because the type of people who turn out for primaries tend to be involved in their party or follow it closely.
She is well known among local Democrats. Her name has been on the ballot many times. In 2006 she won the Lt. Governor nomination in a statewide primary with only a few percentages points of the Democrat votes for President in Virginina just 18 months before. It doesn't take much.
Primaries = few voters = committed voters
Byrne has committed voters.
So does Connolly.
Posted by: NoVA | March 21, 2008 2:50 PM
The union gave Gerry money and then He gave them something they wanted.
You may call that a quid pro quo, but I just call it 'Gerry Style."
Posted by: Lezlie Lover | March 21, 2008 2:52 PM
NoVA, do you even know what = means?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 21, 2008 4:21 PM
Anonymous, did they ban you from other Post blogs, so you come here to troll now?
If I were you, I wouldn't presume to have the "perspective" of all Republicans. Ask Tom Davis what he thinks. I'd bet that he'll tell you that it's a real race between Byrne and Connolly. Connolly has an edge; but it's no gimmee.
Posted by: NoVA | March 21, 2008 6:33 PM
In 2005, Byrne wins statewide Democrat Primary nomination for Lieutenant Governor with 37,900 votes. Which are only 2.6% of all the Virginia votes cats for Kerry in November 2004.
In November 2005 Byrne receives 956,900 votes in the race for Lieutenant Governor.
Outside of Presidential primaries, primaries matter because such a small percentage of General Election voters decide who a party's nominee will be.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 21, 2008 7:19 PM
Leslie definitely has electability issues.
Posted by: Good Point | March 22, 2008 12:19 PM
Leslie has international union support.
Connolly has the local fire fighters union.
If a candidate had to choose, I think a candidate would prefer the local organization, those who actually work and live in the district, those who tend to vote.
Posted by: Local Unions Matter | March 23, 2008 9:40 AM
NoVA = I am a blog NAZI
Posted by: NoVA | March 24, 2008 12:42 PM
drill holes in there heads!!
Posted by: Sasquatch | March 25, 2008 12:50 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
From a distinctively Republican perspective, I really don't see how Byrne can win this thing in either the primary or the general. Connolly right now has much larger name recognition and has seemed to have done a decent job in Fairfax wereas Byrne definitely has a hard left partisan streak that will turn off many independents. I really think the GOP nominee will be praying that Byrne can win because I am not sure she is electable in the long run.